Protest Security Personnel/ Counter-Protesters Clash in Washington

JohnnyPNews.com ^ | 10/25/2003 | by John S. Pappas

[Jen]

Washington D.C. - 10/25/03

Counter-protesters were harassed, threatened, and some assaulted by security personnel of the anti-Iraq Occupation rally (International A.N.S.W.E.R.) before police appeared and relocated the counter-protesters in Washington D.C. today. No arrests were reported, but there was one unconfirmed report of a pregnant female counter-protester being injured in the fracas.

The counter-protesters, consisting of members of the web-based ProtestWarrior.com and FreeRepublic.com, arrived at the protest at approximately 1:30PM carry pro-America signs and positioned themselves just north of the stage area on Constitution Avenue, N.W. They had no permit to organize as a group.

The counter-protesters stood quietly holding their signs aloft. The signs, attempts at humor, had slogans such as; "Communism has only killed 100-million people, let's give it another chance, " and "Screw the Kurds, No war in Iraq."

Within 10 minutes of their arrival, security members from International A.N.S.W.E.R., organizers of today's Anti-U.S. policy protest, appeared and began to cordon-off the area occupied by the counter-protesters using yellow tape.

Within moments, members of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security team began grabbing and destroying the counter-protester's signs, and aggressively shoving counter-protesters. A Johnny P News reporter was assaulted while trying to capture the event on camera. The reporter was struck in the head and his camera knocked to the ground and then kicked by a man standing with the International A.N.S.W.E.R. security personnel. The assailant refused to give his name or answer any questions.

All of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. personnel at the scene refused comment.

Police soon appeared and insisted all of the counter-protesters leave the immediate area.

Members of the counter-protest group began saying that a woman 5-months pregnant with the counter-protesters was injured in the scuffle. Police at the scene however, would not allow access to the area where she was reportedly receiving treatment.

Approximately 60 counter-protesters were on hand during the altercation. U.S. Park Police unofficially estimated the protesters attendance at 50,000.

[EternalVigilance]

So, no---I saw no confrontations.

[YourAdHere]

I was at both the Freeper rally and our counter-protest. We saw the Protest Warriors leave for the Commie rally, and they never joined us at Pershing Park. One did make his way there, and he had no idea where his friends were.

At Pershing Park, we were yelled at of course, and given many one-fingered salutes. The ANSWER crowd seemed rather angry that we were raining on their parade. Boo hoo. There weren't any altercations though. The DC police did their usual outstanding job of protecting us from the "peace" protestors.

[EternalVigilance]

Respectfully, these were not FReepers.

They were part of another group who happened to attend the FR rally.

I wondered when they set off whether they were being wise in their actions.

[Jen]

Uhhhhhhh, OK Bob. I now remember you stating such concerns previously. I did not ping you to stir up this difference of opinions again. Merely, I was looking for info on the status of our people and saw you were following the counter-protest on a different thread and thought you may have some timely info.

[Bob J]

It looks like the Protest Warrior contingent got the worst of it. As said, I hope no one was injured, expecially FReepers.

[EternalVigilance]

Let's admit it, we aren't a bunch of young college kids who think they are never going to die.

Pretty good description of the ProtestWarriors I saw go down there, bless their hearts.

[YourAdHere]

No, no freepers were hurt.

[Bob J]

I respect the Protest Warriors for what they are doing, but having a couple dozen go up against thousands is not a very good plan...in my opinion.

[Bob J]

Good.

[Bob J]

Also, the PW were lucky earlier on because the ANSWER crowd did not know who they were nor what they were doing. Since they had received more press, you can be sure they were aware...and looking for them.

[Jen]

Those ProtestWarriors are fearless, that's for sure. I found out about the clash between the ANSWER thugs and counter-protesters from the PW web site. They're posting after action reports on this thread.

[Bob J]

So, it was people attending the rally, but not specifically FReepers from the DCC or this board?

[Jen]

Any 'mistakes' seem to be made by ProtestWarriors in this case, not FReepers.

[EternalVigilance]

So, it was people attending the rally, but not specifically FReepers from the DCC or this board?

Absolutely. Saw it with my own eyes.

[FreedomPoster]

This sounds very similar to the experience of the brain-terminal folks at Rutgers.

http://www.brain-terminal.com/video/rutgers-2003-10-11/index.html

There's a FreeRepublic thread on this as well. If you have broadband, you should see the video here.

[Bob J]

Thes people are nutz. There are ways for us to get our message out without confronting them. I see not practical reason to do this other than to let off steam.

[EternalVigilance]

Also, the PW were lucky earlier on because the ANSWER crowd did not know who they were nor what they were doing. Since they had received more press, you can be sure they were aware...and looking for them.

Pretty hard to miss em. ;-)

[Bob J]

True, it looks like the PW waded into the kooks outside their permit area. However, this was a cosponsorship, any downside will be felt by all.